Vehicle lamp



N. P. WORDEN VEHICLE LAMP Filed Feb. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORNORBERT P. WORDEN ATTO RN EYS N. P. WORDEN VEHICLE LAMP Filed Feb. 25,1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NORBERT P. WORDEN ATTORNEY" PatenteclOct. 19, 1937 PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE LAMP Norbert P. Worden, Detroit,Mich. assignor to M. Hall Lamp (lompany, eorporation of MichiganDetroit, Mich., a

Application February 25, 1935, Serial N0. 8,112

10 Claims.

The invention relates to vehicle lamps and. has for its0bject theobtainingof a cohstruction in which the unmounted lens can be directlysecured to thelamp housing'so as to form a continuation of the outersurface thereof. In the present state of the art in motor vehieleconstruction there is a tendency towards streamlining, not only the bodyof the car but also al] exposed accessories, suchfor instance as lamps.T0 facilitate such streamlining I have devsed a construction in whichthe outer surface of the lens merges into the outer surface of thecasing. The lens is then secured in such position by an integral portion'thereof which projects within the casing and engages locking meanstherein. Where thelight from the lamp is projected. rearward, as in tailflights; the streamlining is preserved by providing a lens ofsubstantially conical form, its outer surface forming a. continuation ofthe rearwardly tapering form of the casing. Also for some uses, {such asparking lights, it may be desirable to have the light projected. bothforward and rearward and topreserve the streamline form by properlyfashio ning the front and rear lens. The invention therefore consists inthe nevel construction as hereinafter set '0rth. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through one form of lampembodying rny invention;

Figs. 2, 2A, 23 and 2Cshow respectively the casing lens and elements ofthe attachment means; Fig. 3 is a section similar to a portin of Fig. 1showing a slightly modjfied construction;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on line 4-4, Fis. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a lamp of modified construction; Fig.6 is a plan view ofthe rear lens;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the lamp casing. In general constructionmy improved lamp "comprises a lamp casrig E which may be suitablymounted. as by a supp rting bracket B and may if desired have anupwardly projecting arm C for use in attachment of a licensehumber. Thelens is directly mounted. on the casing so as to form a continuation ofthe outer surface thereof.

It is seeured in such position by an inwardly extending portion,preferably an annular fiange having a laterallyexteriding lug forengaging a locking shoulder within the casing.

As shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the lens D has an annular shoulder D' forabutting against the 1 end of1the casing.A and the inwardly extending-opening of the fiange E'.

annular flange D provided on opposite sides 'thereof with outwardlyextending lugs D all of said parts being integral in construction. The

lamp casing A is formed with a radially inwardly extending flange Aagainst which the shoulder D abuts and within which the flange Dextends. This fiange A' is cut away at A for the passage of the lugs Dand on the innerface of the flange A are arranged resiliently yieldingseats. A preferably formed of fashioned segmental strips of springmetal. The construction is such that after the lugs D have enteredthrough the slots A the lens may be turned to engage said lugs with theresilient seats A which are pro- Vided with recesses A for latching withthe lugs. 'Ihus the lens will be held. in contact with the flange A andits outer surface will merge into the surface of the lamp casing so asto preserve the streamlne form.

. The construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 is similar to that justdescrbed, but instead of forming the locking lugs integral with thelens,

inwardly extending flange E cut away at F to form entrance slots and thelens G is provided with a. flange G' adaptedior insertion within theThis fiange G' is interrupted at points I-I corresponding in position tothe cut away portions F and. is also provided with an outwardlyextending rib I forming a peripheral groove I between the same and thebody portion of the lens. J is a split circular band of resilientmetaladapted to be sprung into the groove I with its edge hearing against therib 1. This band has a series of tongues K projecting radially outwardtherefrom anol corresponding in relative position to the cutawayportions F and H. Preferably these tongues are formed integral with theband, being partly severed and struck inward therefrom and then returnbent te extend radially outward. The construction is such that when theband is sprung upon the 1flange G into the peripheral groeve I thereturn bend. portions of the tongues K will extend throgh the slots orinterruptions I-I in the flange G and then outward to project radiallybeyond.

said flange. The resiliency is suficient to cause the band to closelyfit about the flange and the shouldered engagement with the rib I willhold the band from slipping 0ff endwise. 'I'hus by inserting the flangeG with the band thereon into the opening within the flange E of thecasing, the tongues K will pass through slots or cut away portions Fand. by then turning the lens the tongues Will be moved. out ofregistration with said. slots into locking engagement with the flange Tohold the parts in this position, the flange E' has formed on its innerside a plurality of stops L which prevent further turning of the lensand. spaced from these stops a distance substantially equal to the widthof the tongue are indentations M in the flange E which resist rotaton ofthe lens in the reverse direction. The projecting portions of thetongues K are slightly rounded to faciltate riding over the indentationsM when the lens is being engaged or disengageol and. the resiliency ofthe tongues K is suflcient to pr'event such movement accidentally.

For ornament it is sometimes desired to place a bright band intermediatethe lens and. the casing. Such a band N can be placecl around the lenswhich latter is preferably formed with a peripheral groove 0 forreceving the band. As shown, the band. N is of a substantially U-shapedcross section, one leg N beinglonger than the other and fitting againstthe bottom of the groove 0, while the other leg N bears against theflange E of the casing. A resilient gasket P is also preferably placedwithin the band N so as to form a weatherproof seal when the lens islocked to the casing.

Where it is not desired to have the band N, the construction is such asillustrated in Fig. 3, the lens being separated from the flange E" onlyby a gask et Q.

With the construction as described, the lodking stress is carried by theresilient tongues K and distributed through the band J to the rib 1 onthe flange G. This will prevent any localization of stresses sufficientto endanger the breaking of any part of the glass structure.

With the construction shown in Fig. 5, which is designed as a parkinglight, there is not only the rear lens D but also a front lens R. Thisis similar to the lens D in the construction of its securing means, butis of diierent external contour to preserve the streamline form; Withall of the constructions illustrated, the joint between.the lens and.the casing is sealed and weatherproofed by a resilient gasket such as Pand Q and the resilient member of the locking means Will plaee thisgasket under sufficient compression for eiective sealing.

-T0 secure the resilient seats A to the. flanges A without interruptingthe smooth seating surface for the lens, I preferably employ alongitudinal strip A" extending adjacenttothe inner wall of the lampcasing and having at its opposite ends pintles A one of which engagesregistering apertures in the seat A and. flange A and the other anaperture in the opposite fiange A'. This construction permits of qucklyassembling the parts without the use of rivets or without interruptingthe seating surface.

What I claim as rny invention is:

1. The combination with a lamp casng and a lens forming a streamlhed.extension thereof, of means forsecuring said lens to said casingcomprising a fiange integral and coaxial with said lens insertable withnsaid casing, a metallic band. encircling said flange, fastenersprojecting radially from said band. and cooperative means on said casingfor interlocking engagement with said fasteners.

2. The combination with a lamp casing and a lens forming a stramlinedextension thereof, of means for securing said lens to said casingcomprising a flange coaxial and integral with said.

lens and having a peripheral groove therein, said flange beinginsertable within said casing, a metallic band embracing said flangewithin said groeve, fasteners projecting from said. band and cooperatingmeans within said casing with which said fasteners have an interlockingengagement. 3. The combination with a lamp casing and. a

cooperative means within said lamp casingwith Whch said fasten er has aninterlocking engagement.

4. The combination with a lamp casing and. a lens, of means for securingsaid lens to said casing corhprising a circular flange integral andcoaxial with said lens, said flange being in sertable,within said casingand. having a peripheral groeve, a metallic band of resilent materialhaVing asnap engagement with the groove in said flange, a fastenerprojecting radially outward from said band and means within said casingwith which said fastener has an interlocking engagement.

5. The combination with a lamp casing and. a lens, of means for securingsaid lensto saiol casing comprising an nterrupted crcular flangeintegral with said lens and insertable withn-saici casing, said fiangehaving a peripheral groove therein, a band of resilient material havinga snap engagement with said groove, a fastener integral with said bandhaving a radially inwardly extending portion, a return bend. and aradially outwardly extending portion, said. portions being located inthe space between segments of said flange, and a flange en said casi-ngradially slotted for the passage of said fastener and cooperatingtherewith upon the rotationof said lens to look the same to said casing.

6. The combination with a lamp casing and a lens, of means for securingsaid lens to said. casing comprising an integral flange projecting fromsaid. lens and. ormed of a series of circlar segments spaced from eachother, said segments having a peripheral groove therein, a-metallic bandof resilient material having a snap engagement with the .groove of saidsegments, aplurality of tongues integral withsaid band. and. having aradially inwardly extencling portion, a return bendanda radiallyoutwardly extencling portion projecting beyond. said band, said tonguesregistering respectively with the spaces between said segments t0 passtherethrough and means within said casing for nterlocking with saidtongues upon a rotative adjustment of said lens.

7. The combination with a lamp casing and a lens, of means for securingsaid lens to said casing comprising an inwardly extending annular flangeon said. casing having a plurality of radial slots therein, an integralflange projecting from said lens and formed of a series of circularsegments spaced from each other, said flange being insertable withinsaid casing and, the spaces between segments being registrable with theradial slots in the fiange on saidcasing, a metallic band. enciiclng theflange onsaid lens and. having ashoulder engagement therewith; andtongues integral with said band. and registering with the spaces betweensaid segments, said tongues having an nwardly extending portion, areturn band and an outwardly projectng portion extending beyond the bandwhereby said outwardly projecting portions may be inserted through theslots in the fiange on said casing and. locked. with said flange by arotaton of the lens.

8. The combination with a lamp casng and a lens formng complementaryportons of a streamline form, of means for securing sad lens to saidcasing comprising a. flange integral wth said lens and nsertable withinsaid casng, a metallic band. having a snap engagement with said flange,a fastener on said band. projecting radally outward therefrom andcooperating means on said casng with which said fastener has aninterlocking engagement.

9. The combinaton with a lamp casing and a lens ormng complementaryportons of a streamlne form, of means for securing said lens to saidcasing comprisng a fiange integral wth said lens formed of a series ofcircular segments nsertable within sad casing, said segments havng aperpheral groove therein, a band of reslent metal havng a snapengagement with the groove in sad. segments, sad band having tonguesintegral therewlth, each with a radally inwardly extending portion, areturn bend and a radally outwardly extending portion, sad tonguesregistering wth a.nd engaging the spaces between segments of sad. flangeto be held thereby from independent rotative movement, and. a flange onsaid casng radially slotted for the passage of sad tongues andcooperating therewth upon the rotation of said. lens to look the same tothe casing.

10. The combinaton with a lamp casng and a lens formng complementaryportons of a streamlne form, of a flange integral with said. lensprojecting lnward into sad casing, a metallic band encrcling said flangeand. having a shouldered engagement therewith, a fastener projectingradially rom said band, cooperating means wthin said. casing forinterlocking wth said. fastener upon the rotation of sad lens, and anornamental band arranged in a peripheral groove in said lens adjacent tosaid casing.

NCRBERT P. WORDEN.

